Reaping-machine



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet i.

\ W. GAUSE.

REAPING MACHINE.

Patented Arpr.,3,1'88`3.

WITNESS es N. PETERS. Mmwljmogmphm. wnshingmw D. c,

Sheets-Sheet.2.

(No Model.)

W. GAUSE.

RBAPING MACHINE.

N6. 274.931. Patented Apr.s,183.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

` .W. GAUSE.

RBAPING MACHINE.

Patented Apr. 3,1883.

m V'JVIUR.

WITNESSES N4 PETERS, Phouruumgmpner. wmmngxen. D. C.

NHITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. A

WILLIAM GAUSE, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

REAPlNe-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming rpart of Letters Patent No. 274,931, dated April3, 1883.

Y Application filed December 1lI 1882A (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Beit known that I, WILLIAMGAUSE, of FortWayne, county of Allen, and State of Indiana, have invented a new andusefullmprovement in Reaping-Machiues, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings', making part of this specification.

My improvement relates` to a novel construction and arrangement of thereeling, raking, and gaveling mechanisms, whereby the grain is drawninto the cutters, carried inward and delivered to the gavel-forming andgavel-discharging devicesin a standing position 5 to the means fordischarging the gavels or bundles,

`and to certain details of construction and arrangement of parts ot'themachine, as hereinor top View of the same;

after explained.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a front elevation of areaping-machine with myimprovement applied. Fig. 2 is a plan Fig. 3 is abottom View of a portion of the same, and Fig. 4 is a rear elevation ofthe gaveling-platform and its attachments. p

A represents the main frame ofthe machine, consisting of a bar or plateof metal set upon edge, and with its ends bent at right angles to thebody portion, which is arranged ou the stubble side of the wheel B iu alongitudinal plane parallel with the outerface ofsaid wheel, the bentends a and a"crossingthe path of the wheel, in front and rear thereof,as shown. The wheel B is made fast ou its axle, and the latter rotatesina sleeve-bearing, b, formed upon or 'secured to thelongitudinalportion ofthe framebar, at or near the center of its length. The

wheel B is provided on its inner face with a bevel-geared rim, B, withwhich a bevelpinion, B2, engages, said pinion being secured `to alongitudinal shaft, C, having bearings in the bent ends c and a of theframe-bar A, and provided on its forward end with a crank wrist or disk,from which motion is imparted to the sickle-bar. The forward transversearm, a, of the frame extends beyond the bearings for the shaft C, and isbent or twisted at a2 from a vertical position, or one on edge, to ahorizontal position, its extended horizontal end a3 forming a supportfor or point of attachment to the frame of the finger-bar D. To theinner end of the linger-bar is secured a small rectangular platform, E,arranged in rear of said bar, and serving as the gaveling-platform, andas a support for the gaveling and gaveldischarging mechanism, theouteror grain side of said platform being secured to a short arm or bar,E', rigidly secured at its forward end to the linger-bar. This arm orbar E may, if preferred,`form a heel-extension of the outer shoe, andserves, in connection with a heel-ex-` tension of the outer shoe ordivider, F, and finger-bar D, to form a support for` the raking andreeling apparatus, which will now be de scribed.

G and G represent two uprights arranged perpendiculariy to the upperface of the fingerbar, and rigidly secured at their lower ends to said,bar near its rear edge. To the Lipper end of these uprights G and G isrigidly secured a transverse bar, H, arranged in a horizontal planeaboveaud parallel with the linger-bar, with its ends projecting beyondthe supports G and G. l

I is an uprightshaft mountedinbearings,one at its lower end in the arm Eand another at its upper end in the inner end of the bar H, and providednear said bearings with sprocket-wheels I and 12. The heel end of theouter shoe or divider, F, is provided with a short upright stub-,axle onwhich -a sprocket-wheel is mounted loosely, and the outer end of. bar His provided with a short pendent axle, j', arranged in line with saidupright axle on the divider, and upon which issimilarly mounted asprocket-wheel, 13. Endless chainsJand J connect the sprocket-wheels onthe shaft l with the sprocket-wheels on the short shafts above named.The shaftl extends below` its lower bearing in the bar E', and isprovided with a bevel-gear, B4, meshing with a` similar bevel-gear, B3,on a longitudinal shaft, C', mounted in bearings in pendent lugs on thearm E. This shaft is provided with a sprocle et-wheel, C3, near thecenter of its length, and motion is imparted tothe shaft C', and thenceto shaft I, through an endless chain connecting the sprocket-wheel C3with a similar wheel, G2, on the shaft C. The chains J and J areprovided on their outer faces with short vertical sleeves, formingbearings for upright rake heads or shafts j, of which there may be anydesired number, the sleeve-bearin gs ofthe upper sprocket-chain beingarranged ldirectly lOO ' necting the chains, as shown.

over those of the lower one, the shafts j con- The shafts j are providedeach with a series of teeth,j, projecting obliquely forward and inward,(when on the forward portion ofthe chains and moving inward toward themachineframe,) and by preference made, each lower tooth a little longerthan the oneimmediately above it, and also bent or curved to f'orm amore acute angle with the carryingchain, so as to have its point or endin advance of' or projected beyond the tooth or teeth above it, as bythis arrangement the butts of the grain are rst seized by the lowerfingers or teeth and are drawn in to the cutters, and this action servesat the same time to draw the upper ends of the strawinward and. to laythem in the shorter upper fingers. The upper ends of the rakeheadsj areextended beyond the chain J, and are bent at a right angle, forming oneach head or shaft a horizontal crank-arm, jz, and the extreme end ofthis arm is bentdownward at a right angle tothe arm jz, and is providedwith a friction-roller, j", for a purpose which will be explained.

The bar H is provided on its forward edge with an upright lip-or flange,H', against which the rollers j rest when the rakes are moving inward,and which serves to hold the raketeeth in the position above describedduring such inward operativernovement. This lip is bent or deflectedrearwardly over the sprocketwheel I, at its inner end, h, for permittingthe rake-heads to move around saidwheel, and at the same time to holdthe teeth j' up to their work, and a similar deflection, 7L', at theouter end serves to assist in forcing the roller outward in advance ofthe rake-head in passing said end. A bar, H2, is located immediately infront of the fian ge H', supported by the forward pendent arms ofangular or U-shaped (inverted) brackets h2 h3, the rear arms of whichare secured to the rearface of the flange or lip H. The bar H2 issufficiently removed from the flange H' to permit the free passage ofthe rollers between them, and serves not only to hol-d the stalks ofgrain free from the driving-chain, but also to prevent the weight of thegrain f'rom drawing the upper end of' the rake-heads forward out ofproper working position. Similar strips, H3 H4, arranged below thebarHZ, are secured at their outer ends to a standard, F', on the outershoe or divider, and-extending thence in front of the path of' therake-heads, are curved at the inner end of such path to conform thereto,to apoint where the rakeheads begin their outward or return movement,where they are deflected rearward from said path and are secured toastandard,

gavels, and in holding the grain in an upright position until the gavelis com pletedandready to be discharged or bound.

The finger-bar D has al strip or plate, D', secured to its rea-r edge,which serves to protect the lower sprocket chainfrom the stubble andother obstructions, and also at its outer end as a support for anangle-iron, D2, the upright portion or lip c of which serves, as therake-heads approach the endof their outward or return movement, to rockthe teeth backward, and, in connection with the defiection of the' lipor flange H', to rock the crank-armsj2 into proper position for holdingthe rake-teeth upto their work on their inward movement, as explained.

To the inner end of the finger-bar, or to the end of the arm a3, towhich said bar is connected, is secured an upright, L, provided with aseries of curved fingers, l l, arranged one over another and rigidlysecured at one end to said standard. These fingers project forward fromthe standard and are curved outward and rearward, giving them each theform of an irregular U or loop, the arms l l of which are elongated andextend obliquely across the platl form, terminating,r near the rear endsof the strips H3 H4, and forming yielding arms, between which and thestrips H3 H4 the' grain is left standing in an upright position, thegrain as it is brought in by the rake-teeth being gradually crowded backon a platform between said strips and yielding fingers. The upright L isby preference provided with a pivot extending through itssupporting-bar, and provided with a screw-thread and nut on its lowerend for permitting the adjustment of the upright on such pivot, andthereby adjusting the angle of relation of' the fingers to the strips HaH4,

as may be required to adapt them to the conl dition of the grain beingoperated upon, but any suitable means may be employed for effecting suchadjustment.

The platform E is provided near its rear inner corner with bearings f'oran upright shaft, M, the upper end of which is squared to adapt it toreceive and actuate a grain-receiving and gavel-dischargin g device, N.This device consists of a qnadrant,or, rather, of' a hub, N', having aperforation conforming to the shape of' the shaft M in horizontalsection, and fitting said shaft, and provided with three arms, n n a2,the two first-named being connected at their outer end by a section of arim Vcurved in the arc of a circle of which the shaft M is the center,giving said part of the device a skeleton-quadrant form, with the radialarm `u2 distinct therefrbm, and connected with said quadrant onlythrougha common. hub or center. This arm crosses the space between the fingersl and the bars H3 Hi'near their rear ends, and serves to receive anduphold the grain brought in by the rakes. The arm n is made in formresembling the letter S, the curved portion at its outer swinging endbeing adapted to partially encircle the gavel and to compress lthe same;and it may also'serve as the needle-arm IOO IIE

for carrying the end ofthe binding material around said gaveLwhere the`grain is to be the lower face of the platform.

bound before being discharged. i The quad rant or partial rim as,connecting the arms n and a', serves to prevent the incoming grain fromgettingbehind the arm n and interfering with its being retracted afterit has been operated to discharge the gavel or bundle.

The shaft M is provided with a number of holes, and thegevel-discharging devicemay he held at any desired height to adapt it tothe grain being operated upon by means ot' a pin passed through one ofsaid holes under the hub N. The shaft projects slightly below theplatform E, and is provided on its lower end with a crank-wheel, P, fromwhich a connecting-rod, p, extends to a crank-wheel, P', mounted looselyon the rear end of a shaft, C'.

The hub of the crank wheel or disk P is pro.V vided on its forward endwith a clutclrface,

adapting it to engage with a corresponding clutch-face on a collar, c5,fast on the shaft C.

The said hub of wheel P is 01rooved to receive the bent ends of aU-shaped loop, g, attached to the outer end of the lever r, pivoted at rto The innerend of the lever i' extends past the crank wheel or disk P,and is connected by a spring, s, with the platform, as shown, thetension of said spring being exerted to hohl the crank-wheel P out ofengagement with the clutch-collar c5, and loose on the shaft. Midwaybetween the pivot 1""and thespring s the lever r is provided on itsupper face with a friction-roller, r2, which rests against the disk P;and the latter has anotch orrecess formed in its periphery at P', inwhich the roller r2 rests when the gavelin g-arm 'n2 is imposition toreceive the incoming grain. As thel grain becomes compressed againstsaid `arm n2 in quantity suffi` cient to form a bundleot the desiredsize, the further accumulation oaf the grain crowds said arm back,partially rotating the disk P and displacing the roller r2 from thenotchp; and

said disk, crowding theroller back, together with the arm of lever i, towhich it is at. tached, serves to throw the crankwheel into engagementwith the clutch-collar c5; and said crank-wheel, acting throughthe'pitman p on the crank-wheel P and shaft M, rocks thegavel-discharger backward, causing the gavel to be thrown over the rearedge of the platform, dischargngit either upon the ground or into anysuitable receptacle. Ihe crank or .crankwheel P is of shorter radiusthan crank-wheel P, and serves merely to vibrate the latter j ust enoughto cause the ejector at to discharge thegavel or bundle, the roller r2,as the wheel P completes its return movement, being drawn into the notch19', thereby throwing the crankwheel out of action untilthe grain againpresses the arm n2 back, as described.

At that part of the platform where the gavel or the bound bundle, as thecase may be, is discharged, is a low gate, t, hinged by its lower edgeto the rear edge of the platform, and in an upright position by aspring, t. (See For relieving the machine ot' side draft or the draggingot' its outer end, I prefer to locate the grain-wheel behind the cuttingapparatus and the upright raking and reelingdevice described at vaboutthe center of their length. The grain-wheel U is mounted on a'shortshaft attached to the rear end of an arm, V, about in the sametransverse vertical plane with the axis of the main driving-wheel B, theforward end of said arm V being connected rigidly with theiinger-barator near the centerofits length, as shown. n

The tongue W of the machine is hinged at its rear end to the inner endot' the forward arm, rt a3, of the angular traine-bar, and is providedwith a hound or brace, w, extending ob liquely to the outer front cornerof said angular frame-bar, and pivoted in va lug, X, and said brace,extending through said lug, is bent forward and forms a crank-arm, w',to which one end of a lever, y, pivoted in any suitable support on theframe-bar, is attached. The lever may be held at any desired `adjustmentby a toothed rack or other suitable device, and serves by its adjustmentto rock the machine on its wheels B and Vin a manner well understood.

Having nowdescribed my invention, what I claim as new is- 1. In areaping-machine, upright shafts at each endot' the cuttingapparatus,`provided with sprocket-wheels, in combination with endlesschains carrying upright rake shafts or heads, and mechanism for movingsaid rakeheads inward across the path of the cutters for delivering thecut grain in'an upright por sition upon a gaveling-platt'orm at theinner end .of the cutting apparatus, substantially as described. v

2. In a reaping-machine, the upright reeling and yraking mechanismconsisting of the endless chains arranged one over another, andcarryingupright lake heads or shafts providedwith the teeth or ngers setobliquely, as described, whereby the points are made to enter thestanding grain and gather it in to the cutters.

IOO

IOS

IIO

IIS

3. The upright rake-heads provided with l crank-arms, in combinationwith the guiding ledge or track for holding said rake-heads in workingposition, and mechanism for moving said rake-heads' transversely acrossthe path of thecutters, substantially as and for the pur n posedescribed.

4. The upright rake-headsprovided with the obliquelyarranged teeth, incombination with the actuating-chains and the supporting-strips arrangedin front of the path ofsaid heads, and

l ner end ofthe cutting apparatus, in combina` tion with mechanism fordelivering the grain thereto in an upright or standing position, andmeans for upholding and compressing th e grain thereon, substantially4as described.

7. The gavel upholding and ejecting device N, mounted upon an uprightshaft, in combiv nation with mechanism adapted to be thrown into actionby the pressure of the grain on the gavelupholding device for effectingthe discharge of the gavel or bundle, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with the gaveling-platform E and means for upholdingand compressingthe grain thereon, of the pivotell gate cross- 'ing thepathof discharge of the grain, substantially as described. V-

v9. The upright shaf't M, in combination with the grain holding andejecting device'N, made adjustable vertically on said shaft,substantially as and for the purpose described.

l0. The upright L, located at or near the heel end of the finger-bar,and provided with curved and yielding fingers l, substantially asdescribed, in combination with the bars H3 and H4, mechanism fordelivering the grain in a standing position to said fingers, andmechanism for discharging the grain, substantially as described.

11. The upright shaf't M, carrying the bundlc holding and ejectiugdevice, in combination with the crank-wheels P and P', arranged andoperating` substantially as described.

12. The angular frame-barA, provided with bearings for the maindrive-wheel axle and crankshaft, and having its forward transverse armturned or twisted from a verticalposition, or one on edge, to ahorizontal position, in combination with the finger-bar, secured -tosaid arm, substantially. as described.

13. The hinged pole or tongue, in combination with theobliquely-arranged tongue-brace w, pivoted to the frame, and providedwith a crank arm or lever w andaleveri connected therewith for rockingthe frame on its supporting-wheels, substantially as described.

In testimony whereofl have hereunto set my hand this 8th day otDecember, A. D. 1882.4

- WILLTAM GAUSE.

Witnesses DANIEL SHoRDoR, WILLIAM KAoUGH.

